Have any editors on here gone on to become directors?

[rc444]

Have any editors on here gone on to become directors?

Have any editors on here been able to achieve a balance of finding time to edit, and, most importantly, finding time to write/direct your own stuff???

Has the transition from editing to directing been easy for those of you who have managed to become a director?

I'm interested in learning directing/editing, but I feel that if I do editing, it may become so full on with 10 hour days etc, that I simply won't have time to direct.

 

[Matthew R. Rodwell]

Worked for George Lucas, he said that in an interview having an editing background has really helped his directing style since he films in the mindset of how he wants to cut it.

 

[Jon Starr]

Worked for George Lucas, he said that in an interview having an editing background has really helped his directing style since he films in the mindset of how he wants to cut it.

Too bad he doesn't know how to direct actors.

People have become directors from all kinds of jobs.

 

[Stephen Mick]

I'll echo Matt's comments here. Some of the best directors I've ever worked with (commercial world) come from an editorial background. In most cases, they've already cut a sequence in their mind before they roll frame one.

Now, this approach may work better in a 30-second commercial than a 90-minute feature.

--SM

 

[Matthew R. Rodwell]

Jon I agree, regardless of what background you come from if you dont know how to deal with actors your directing will suffer but having the editing background and a natural people person can really help you out when working on projects.

 

[Batutta]

Have any editors on here gone on to become directors?

Have any editors on here been able to achieve a balance of finding time to edit, and, most importantly, finding time to write/direct your own stuff???

Has the transition from editing to directing been easy for those of you who have managed to become a director?

I'm interested in learning directing/editing, but I feel that if I do editing, it may become so full on with 10 hour days etc, that I simply won't have time to direct.

I'm an editor who's been writing/directing his own stuff. Being an editor is definitely a 10 hour job if you're on staff somewhere. I was lucky to make enough freelance contacts that I'm able to work at home at my own pace and make a consistent, livable wage. I basically make the same amount as I did on staff but working half the hours. Of course I have to pay my own health care which sucks, but it's worth the sacrifice. If you don't have anyone to look after but yourself, and find cheap rent and can live on Ramen noodles, then you might be better off working a part time gig (an assistant at a post house would be a good start), and spend the rest of your time writing and shooting. If a spartan existence doesn't appeal to you, my advice would then be to work on staff somewhere for a few years to hone your chops and save up money, doing freelance on the side until you have enough contacts to quit and make your own way. Just make sure you have a nice buffer in your bank account as you may encounter some dry spells.

 

[BLUESPIDER]

Yeah I started as an editor, and now I've become a cook. Not quite sure what happed there.


Really, it does help a bit if you have a background in editing. Any skill you can pick up will help you become a better director.

 

[Brandon Rice]

I'm started out as an editor and have directed several films.

 

[SilverWolf]

I think experience in general makes you a better director. Whether that's editing , Dp'ing or cooking.

 

[Robbie Comeau]

Worked for George Lucas, he said that in an interview having an editing background has really helped his directing style since he films in the mindset of how he wants to cut it.

Well said Matt. Well said.

 

[Isaac_Brody]

I also know a lot of editors who hate being on set, hate dealing with people, and editing is a perfect fit from them.

Agree that it helps for directing in that it gives you a good knowledge of the building blocks of covering scenes, but it doesn't train you to work with actors, set protocol/politics, etc.

EDIT: Started out as editor and then went on to directing.

 

[spidey]

hitchcock loved to edit, hated to be on set. he slept during takes.

 

[Jason Adams]

I started as an editor and now I am a director.

 

[kai]

I started out as a designer/editor back in the day and while I'm still doing it, I've moved on to directing and DP-ing other broadcast work as well

 

[Tom Marshall]

Ridley Scott was an editor for about a year when he was first starting out.

 

[joemiked]

i have director now who lets me direct scenes and he helps me write , its tuff to be so thuro about your stuff ,shot list scripts , then handle the technical side and theres talent they alone need everything but keeping your imagination going is super cool, heres soemthing i have of me just directing my director around !!
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=124523

im the dp and the editor for these guys and sorta stepping into writting /directing i do have soem directed peice lots acualy but im seeing what better orginization skillz gets you man!!!

md.